German quickly showed how fast he is! #video

16:30, 6 km to go: Breakaway is finally done, five leaders are caught.

16:24, 10 km to go: Five leading riders Matteo Busato (Ita/Androni), Diego Ulissi (Ita/Team Emirates), Sebastian Schönberger (Avt/Neri Sottoli), Enrico Gasparotto (Ita/ Dimension Data), Ildar Arslanov (Rus/Gazprom-Rusvelo) – are 20 ahead of the peloton.

16:22, 11 km go to: Cyclists are already in Rogaška Slatina that will host the finish of today’s stage.

16.20, 13 km to go: Looks like the break is done. Diego Ulissi and others will be soon caught.

16:15, 17 km to go: Four riders have caught the leaders. They are now 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.

16:10, 18 km to go: Matteo Busato (Ita/Androni Giocattoli - Sidermac) in Sebastian Schönberger (Avt/Neri Sottoli) are now alone in the front, but four cyclists are closing in, including Charles Planet (Fra/Novo Nordisk), Enrico Gasparotto (Ita/ Dimension Data), Ildar Arslanov (Rus/Gazprom-Rusvelo) in Diego Ulissi (Ita/UAE Team Emirates).

16:05, 20 km to go: We finally have the time gap between the leader and the peloton. It’s at 50 seconds, which means that the peloton will have to show some effort if they want to catch the escapees.

15:55, 32 km to go: Ulissi is part of team UAE Team Emirates, which means he’s a teammate of Tadej Pogačar and Jan Polanc, who also aim for top results. Will Italian crossed their plans?

15:40: Group of 11 cyclists was formed on the descent from Planina:  Matteo Busato (Ita/Androni), Matthias Krizek (Avt/Felbermayr), Sebastian Schönberger (Avt/Neri Sottoli), Iuri Filosi (Ita/Delko), Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil), Enrico Gasparotto (Ita/Dimension Data), Francesco Bongiorno (Ita/Neri Sottoli), Michael Schwarzmann (Nem/BORA - hansgrohe), Charles Planet (Fra/Novo Nordisk), Ildar Arslanov (Rus/Gazprom-Rusvelo)  & Diego Ulissi (Ita/UAE Team Emirates).

Foto: Sportida

15:35: German Michael Schwarzmann (BORA – hansgrohe) crashed on the descent, but for now we don’t know how serious the crash was.

15.30, 51 km to go: Anything but easy climb had mixed up the things on the race. Peloton has split in half and is now only 1 minute 20 seconds behind Jarc. Mark Cavendish also had some problems and lost contact with the main group for a little bit. 

15:25, 55 km to go: Cyclists are climbing to Planina. Road has an incline of 11% in some sections. Adria Mobil’s Aljaž Jarc is still in the lead. Grošelj is still between Jarc and the peloton.

15:11, 63 km to go: Jarc and Grošelj are already on the climb to Planina, Pirih is meanwhile already in the peloton.

15:05, 64 km to finish: Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil) and Matic Grošelj (Slo/Ljubljana Gusto Santic) were left alone in the break, Aleš Pirih (Slo/Slovenia) can’t keep up any more. Gap is not at 2,5 minutes.

15:00: Cyclists had also passed feed zone in Šentjur and refuel with water and energy snacks. They are getting closer to the KOM finish in Planina.

14:55, 70 km to the finish: Leaders Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil), Matic Grošelj (Slo/Ljubljana Gusto Santic) & Aleš Pirih (Slo/Slovenia) are 2 minutes 40 seconds ahead of the main group.

14:50, 75 km to the finish: Main group has again backed down a little bit and the lead of the break went up to 2 minutes 40 seconds.

Foto: Matic Klanšek Velej/Sportida

14:40, 85 km: Gap of the break is not at 1:55.

14:37: Average speed after two hours is 40,5 km/h.

14:35, 80 km: Gap of the breakaway group is now at two minutes. Riders will still have to make it over 3rdcategory climb on Planina and intermediate finish in Podčetrtek.

14:25: Lead of the break has melted a little bit, peloton is now 2 minutes and 35 seconds behind.

14:15, 70 km: Stage is very calm, there is not muck going on. This is typical for flat stages where everything is focused on the sprint finish. Break is still 3 minutes ahead.

13:53: Everything is peaceful on the race. Peloton is in the control of the position, riders are taking refreshments and water bottles from the cars.

Foto: Peter Podobnik / Sportida

13:43, 48 km: Peloton has backed down a little bit, but nothing dramatic happened. Leaders are still three minutes ahead. Breakaway is Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil), Matic Grošelj (Slo/Ljubljana Gusto Santic) & Aleš Pirih (Slo/Slovenia).

13:25: Team Dimension Data is not leading the peloton, they are of course counting on Mark Cavendish for the stage victory.

13:20, 30 km: Peloton is not taking any chances and is chasing the leaders. Gap has gone down to three minutes.

13:10, 25 km: Leading trio lost another five seconds (3:50).

13:08, 20 km: Team with best sprinters will not let escapees to go too far ahead. Stage is just at the beginning, but they have showed that they don’t have a lot of chances. Gaps is now at 3:55.

13:00: We’re on 16thkilometer. Leaders Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil), Matic Grošelj (Slo/Ljubljana Gusto Santic) & Aleš Pirih (Slo/Slovenia) are now already 4,5 minutes ahead of the peloton.

Foto: Sportida

12:55: Leading trio is very serious and is only increasing the lead. They are now 3 minutes & 20 seconds ahead of the peloton. Cyclist will soon be able to take snacks from their teams, they can do that after 20thkilometer and up to 10 kilometers to the finish line.

12:45: Matic Grošelj won first mountain finish on the race. Leaders are now 2 minutes 10 seconds ahead of the main group.

12:43: Leaders are now 1:05 ahead of the peloton.

12:40: Three cyclists managed to escape -Aljaž Jarc (Slo/Adria Mobil), Matic Grošelj (Slo/Ljubljana Gusto Santic) and Aleš Pirih (Slo/Slovenia)

12:35: We’ve seen first breakaways right away and the speed of the peloton has went up right away. Weather is nice, with 31 degrees Celsius and some moisture in the air. But there is a chance of a storm later in the day.

Foto: Sportida

12:30, 6 km: The official start of the race. Neutral ride was longer than planed, but due to road works there was no other option.

12:15: The race is on! 129 cyclists started 26thedition of Tour of Slovenia.

Start - Ljubljana

3D-presentation of 1. stage:

Who will be the best in sprint?

The end of the first 171-kilometre long stage is practically made for sprinters. The most probable clash for the stage victory and first green leader’s jacket will be between former world champion, Brit Mark Cavendish, best sprinter of this year’s Giro Pascal Ackermann from Germany, Italian Simone Consonni and Phil Bauhausfrom Germany. To be up there with the best is also a wish for Luka Mezgecand the first name of Adria MobilMarko Kump.

Will Pogačar take the title from Roglič?

First name for Primož Roglič’s successor, who was last year too strong for competitors is gifted Tadej Pogačar, with a powerful backup of the team UAE Team Emirates, but there are also some foreigners who will try to take the Slovenian victory away.Slovenian cyclists have taken 12 final victories and 51 stage wins during the last 25 Tours of Slovenia.

First day, Tour of Slovenia, foto: Matic Klanšek Velej, Vid Ponikvar (Sportida):

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